13. Yajur Veda — Chapter 13

【 Verse 13.1 】

▸ Veda Mantra: मयि॑ गृह्णा॒म्यग्रे॑ अ॒ग्निꣳ रा॒यस्पोषा॑य सुप्रजा॒स्त्वाय॑ सु॒वीर्या॑य। मामु॑ दे॒वताः॑ सचन्ताम् ॥१ ॥

▸ Translation: First of all I dedicate my mind and soul to the Lord Almighty, Agni, lord of light and life, power and prosperity, and I instal the yajna-fire in my home for the gifts of vigour and valour, wealth and prosperity and a noble family. May all the divine powers, for sure, favour and bless me. (Just as a house-holder or a student is dedicated to Agni, the Lord Almighty, and to agni, the yajna-fire, so too should he/she be dedicated to the agnis among the community, leading men and women of knowledge, wisdom and virtue who have specialised in various fields of knowledge and development.)

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【 Verse 13.2 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अ॒पां पृ॒ष्ठम॑सि॒ योनि॑र॒ग्नेः स॑मु॒द्रम॒भितः॒ पिन्व॑मानम्। वर्ध॑मानो म॒हाँ२ऽआ च॒ पुष्क॑रे दि॒वो मात्र॑या वरि॒म्णा प्र॑थस्व ॥२ ॥

▸ Translation: Lord Almighty, infinite spirit and life of the universe, you are the centre-hold of waters and energy. You are the original cause of heat and light. Surrounding and feeding the expansive oceans on earth and in space from all sides, you are great and ever greater in the intervening spaces between earth and heaven. And you reveal your glory by the measure and immensity of the light of heaven.

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【 Verse 13.3 】

▸ Veda Mantra: ब्रह्म॑ जज्ञा॒नं प्र॑थ॒मं पु॒रस्ता॒द्वि सी॑म॒तः सु॒रुचो॑ वे॒नऽआ॑वः। स बु॒ध्न्या᳖ऽ उप॒माऽ अ॑स्य वि॒ष्ठाः स॒तश्च॒ योनि॒मस॑तश्च॒ वि वः॑ ॥३ ॥

▸ Translation: Brahma, infinite spirit of the universe, all-creator and omniscient, is the first and greatest reality of existence. Worthy of love and adoration, It is the highest object of desire for the wise. The great and glorious objects (such as the sun, the moon, the earth) which fill the skies in various regions of space are exemplary revelations of Its creative power. In the beginning of creation, that Brahma, from the potential and law of Its own existence, invokes Prakriti, the original Nature which is the cause of all that is come into existence and also that which is yet to come into existence.

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【 Verse 13.4 】

▸ Veda Mantra: हि॒र॒ण्य॒ग॒र्भः सम॑वर्त्त॒ताग्रे॑ भू॒तस्य॑ जा॒तः पति॒रेक॑ऽ आसीत्। स दा॑धार पृथि॒वीं द्यामु॒तेमां कस्मै॑ दे॒वाय॑ ह॒विषा॑ विधेम ॥४ ॥

▸ Translation: The One Lord of Light and the sole creator of lights such as the sun existed before creation (as He ever exists). He alone was and is the lord and sustainer of all forms of created being. He holds and sustains the earth and heaven and supports this whole universe. We worship the same one lord and offer Him homage with libations of fragrant materials.

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【 Verse 13.5 】

▸ Veda Mantra: द्र॒प्सश्च॑स्कन्द पृथि॒वीमनु॒ द्यामि॒मं च॒ योनि॒मनु॒ यश्च॒ पूर्वः॑। स॒मा॒नं योनि॒मनु॑ सं॒चर॑न्तं द्र॒प्सं जु॑हो॒म्यनु॑ स॒प्त होत्राः॑ ॥५ ॥

▸ Translation: That eternal, perfect and primordial joy (Ananda) which blesses and coexists with the earth, the heaven and the original cause of existence, Prakriti, the same joy which universally subsists with its origin, the sole creator, I adore with all my breath of life (five pranas), mind and soul.

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【 Verse 13.6 】

▸ Veda Mantra: नमो॑ऽस्तु स॒र्पेभ्यो॒ ये के च॑ पृथि॒वीमनु॑। येऽ अ॒न्तरि॑क्षे॒ ये दि॒वि तेभ्यः॑ स॒र्पेभ्यो॒ नमः॑ ॥६ ॥

▸ Translation: For all those that move in space, and those which move on the earth, which move in the regions of heaven and those which move about in the sky between earth and heaven, for all these moving forms of existence Nature has provided food, the means of sustenance.

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【 Verse 13.7 】

▸ Veda Mantra: याऽइष॑वो यातु॒धाना॑नां॒ ये वा॒ वन॒स्पतीँ॒१ऽरनु॑। ये वा॑व॒टेषु॒ शेर॑ते॒ तेभ्यः॑ स॒र्पेभ्यो॒ नमः॑ ॥७ ॥

▸ Translation: For all the arrows of the enemies of life, and those who damage the herbs and trees, being poachers and parasites, and those who sleep and wait in the obscure paths for victims, for all these surreptitious forms of moving life, a challenge and a thunderbolt!

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【 Verse 13.8 】

▸ Veda Mantra: ये वा॒मी रो॑च॒ने दि॒वो ये वा॒ सूर्य॑स्य र॒श्मिषु॑। येषा॑म॒प्सु सद॑स्कृ॒तं तेभ्यः॑ स॒र्पेभ्यो॒ नमः॑ ॥८ ॥

▸ Translation: Or those negative forces that are in the heat of the solar region, or those in the rays of the sun, or those which have taken abode in the waters, to these moving forms of existence, a challenge to counter, overpower or destroy!

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【 Verse 13.9 】

▸ Veda Mantra: कृ॒णु॒ष्व पाजः॒ प्रसि॑तिं॒ न पृ॒थ्वीं या॒हि राजे॒वाम॑वाँ॒२ऽ इभे॑न। तृ॒ष्वीमनु॒ प्रसि॑तिं द्रूणा॒नोऽस्ता॑सि॒ विध्य॑ र॒क्षस॒स्तपि॑ष्ठैः ॥९ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, ruler, your influence is fast, far and wide. Increase your strength and power and make it felt. Go like a shot over the earth as a king with his attendant forces. Cast your net of law instantly against the destructive elements and punish them with inescapable consequences.

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【 Verse 13.10 】

▸ Veda Mantra: तव॑ भ्र॒मास॑ऽ आशु॒या प॑त॒न्त्यनु॑ स्पृश धृष॒ता शोशु॑चानः। तपू॑ष्यग्ने जु॒ह्वा᳖ पत॒ङ्गानस॑न्दितो॒ विसृ॑ज॒ विष्व॑गु॒ल्काः ॥१० ॥

▸ Translation: Agni (ruler, commander of the forces, lord of justice), the flames of your fire blaze with awe. Pure and purifying with might and daring, fall upon the forces which burn and destroy life and society, and with libations unrestrained, release a rain of lightning terror striking in all directions.

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【 Verse 13.11 】

▸ Veda Mantra: प्रति॒ स्पशो॒ विसृ॑ज॒ तूर्णि॑तमो॒ भवा॑ पा॒युर्वि॒शोऽ अ॒स्या अद॑ब्धः। यो नो॑ दू॒रेऽ अ॒घश॑ꣳसो॒ योऽ अन्त्यग्ने॒ माकि॑ष्टे॒ व्यथि॒राद॑धर्षीत् ॥११ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, instant in action, bold and inviolable, if there is a tormentor or a wicked maligner or a supporter of sin and crime far or near against you or against us, release the forces to seize him and remove the obstacles. Be the protector and guardian of this people/community. Let none bully or terrorize you and us.

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【 Verse 13.12 】

▸ Veda Mantra: उद॑ग्ने तिष्ठ॒ प्रत्यात॑नुष्व॒ न्य᳕मित्राँ॑२ऽ ओषतात् तिग्महेते। यो नो॒ऽ अरा॑तिꣳ समिधान च॒क्रे नी॒चा तं ध॑क्ष्यत॒सं न शुष्क॑म् ॥१२ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, lord of heat and light, leader of an advancing humanity, rise and grow. Let the light spread around. Wielder of the sharpest weapons and inviolable power, burn the enemies of life and human values. Blazing lord of fire and justice, if someone creates, supports or advances the selfish, ungenerous and ungracious forces, scorch him like a patch of dry shrubs.

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【 Verse 13.13 】

▸ Veda Mantra: ऊ॒र्ध्वो भ॑व॒ प्रति॑वि॒ध्याध्य॒स्मदा॒विष्कृ॑णुष्व॒ दैव्या॑न्यग्ने। अव॑ स्थि॒रा त॑नुहि यातु॒जूनां॑ जा॒मिमजा॑मिं॒ प्रमृ॑णीहि॒ शत्रू॑न्। अ॒ग्नेष्ट्वा॒ तेज॑सा सादयामि ॥१३ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, lord of light and power, leader of humanity, rise and stay on top. Counter and ward off the enemies of mankind. Develop the best things which our saints and scholars have discovered and invented. Resist and reduce the strength of the opponents to nil. Eliminate the natural, traditional and customary enemies of society. I instal you in your seat with the baptism of light and fire.

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【 Verse 13.14 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अ॒ग्निर्मू॒र्द्धा दि॒वः क॒कुत्पतिः॑ पृथि॒व्याऽ अ॒यम्। अ॒पा रेता॑सि जिन्वति। इन्द्र॑स्य॒ त्वौज॑सा सादयामि ॥१४ ॥

▸ Translation: This Agni, the sun, is the chief and summit of heaven. It is the father and sustainer of the earth and its life. It vitalizes and refreshes the waters of life for the earth and her children. So should you be, Ruler of the land. I anoint and consecrate you with the radiant power of Indra, the sun.

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【 Verse 13.15 】

▸ Veda Mantra: भुवो॑ य॒ज्ञस्य॒ रज॑सश्च ने॒ता यत्रा॑ नि॒युद्भिः॒ सच॑से शि॒वाभिः॑। दि॒वि मू॒र्द्धानं॑ दधिषे स्व॒र्षां जि॒ह्वाम॑ग्ने चकृषे हव्य॒वाह॑म् ॥१५ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni is the leader and mover of the earth and its life, of the motions of wind and energy in the middle sphere, and of the cosmic yajna of creation. And there everywhere it is one with the blissful dynamics of existence. As it sends up its flames of fire bearing the light and fragrance of yajna, it holds its head high and wields the light of the sun in heaven. (Similarly, O king, be the leader of the nation’s life on earth and the dignity and dynamics of the polity. Be the path-maker of the policies of peace, justice and happiness and hold your head high with words of enlightenment, creativity and joy for the people.)

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【 Verse 13.16 】

▸ Veda Mantra: ध्रु॒वासि॑ ध॒रुणास्तृ॑ता वि॒श्वक॑र्मणा। मा त्वा॑ समु॒द्रऽ उद्व॑धी॒न्मा सु॑प॒र्णोऽअव्य॑थमाना पृथि॒वीं दृ॑ꣳह ॥१६ ॥

▸ Translation: Spirit of the human nation, polity of the world, you are the centre-hold of dharma, enlightenment and peace, created, completed and blest by the Lord-maker of the world, Vishvakarma. Let not the seas hurt you. Let not the sky, sun and moon and the clouds hurt you. Unhurt, free and peaceful, develop, beautify and beatify the earth.

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【 Verse 13.17 】

▸ Veda Mantra: प्र॒जाप॑तिष्ट्वा सादयत्व॒पां पृ॒ष्ठे स॑मु॒द्रस्येम॑न्। व्यच॑स्वतीं॒ प्रथ॑स्वतीं॒ प्रथ॑स्व पृथि॒व्य᳖सि ॥१७ ॥

▸ Translation: Spirit of humanity, mother of the commonwealth, lady of the polity, be open, free and accommodative, be expansive and celebrated. And may the creator of life, father of humanity, Prajapati, establish you with His blessings on the currents of rivers, on the paths of the seas, and over the currents of air in the sky.

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【 Verse 13.18 】

▸ Veda Mantra: भूर॑सि॒ भूमि॑र॒स्यदि॑तिरसि वि॒श्वधा॑या॒ विश्व॑स्य॒ भुव॑नस्य ध॒र्त्री। पृ॒थि॒वीं य॑च्छ पृथि॒वीं दृ॑ꣳह पृथि॒वीं मा हि॑ꣳसीः ॥१८ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, light of the universe, vitality of nature, you are the being and existence, you are the mother-support, whole, inviolable, all sustaining and all-nourishing, centre-hold and wielder of all the regions of the world. Sustain, guide and raise the world, develop and expand the life on earth. Do not hurt the earth nor violate the life of her children. (As Agni is the life and support of the earth, so is the woman the mother of the home.)

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【 Verse 13.19 】

▸ Veda Mantra: विश्व॑स्मै प्रा॒णाया॑पा॒नाय॑ व्या॒नायो॑दा॒नाय॑ प्रति॒ष्ठायै॑ च॒रित्रा॑य। अ॒ग्निष्ट्वा॒भिपा॑तु म॒ह्या स्व॒स्त्या छ॒र्दिषा॒ शन्त॑मेन॒ तया॑ दे॒वत॑याङ्गिर॒स्वद् ध्रु॒वा सी॑द ॥१९ ॥

▸ Translation: Lady of the home, may Agni, lord of light and life/your husband, the presiding presence of the home, fully protect and support you in every way for all the energy of life, prevention of suffering, best manners and behaviour, inner strength, dignity and recognition and virtuous conduct. In a state of perfect peace and well-being, with all the joys of life in a good home, stay firm and secure with Agni, the lord of life, and your husband, like Prakriti with Purusha and the light of the dawn with the day.

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【 Verse 13.20 】

▸ Veda Mantra: काण्डा॑त्काण्डात्प्र॒रोह॑न्ती॒ परु॑षःपरुष॒स्परि॑। ए॒वा नो॑ दूर्वे॒ प्रत॑नु स॒हस्रे॑ण श॒तेन॑ च ॥२० ॥

▸ Translation: Lady of the home, delicate and graceful as the durva grass, just as the grass grows from one section of the stalk to another, from one knot of joint to another, so you too, grow in life, and let us grow and help us advance in life a hundred-fold and from thereon a thousand fold.

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【 Verse 13.21 】

▸ Veda Mantra: या श॒तेन॑ प्रत॒नोषि॑ स॒हस्रे॑ण वि॒रोह॑सि। तस्या॑स्ते देवीष्टके वि॒धेम॑ ह॒विषा॑ व॒यम् ॥२१ ॥

▸ Translation: Lady light of the home, root and foundation of the yajna of family life, as you grow a hundred-fold and then you rise a thousand-fold, O noble and generous mother, we offer you love and reverence in homage with the best fragrant offerings.

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【 Verse 13.22 】

▸ Veda Mantra: यास्ते॑ऽ अग्ने॒ सूर्य्ये॒ रुचो॒ दिव॑मात॒न्वन्ति॑ र॒श्मिभिः॑। ताभि॑र्नोऽ अ॒द्य सर्वा॑भी रु॒चे जना॑य नस्कृधि ॥२२ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, those lights of yours which, in the solar region, illuminate the heavenly spaces with the sunbeams, with all those lights to-day bless us with enlightenment for the sake of our people. (As Agni illuminates the heavens with the light of the sun, so should the teachers of men and women enlighten them with the light of their knowledge. What is the secret of Agni turning into light, and into light of the sun?)

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【 Verse 13.23 】

▸ Veda Mantra: या वो॑ देवाः॒ सूर्य्ये॒ रुचो॒ गोष्वश्वे॑षु॒ या रुचः॑। इन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ ताभिः॒ सर्वा॑भी॒ रुचं॑ नो धत्त बृहस्पते ॥२३ ॥

▸ Translation: Divine powers of nature, your energy and vitality illuminates the sun and vitalizes the lives of animals like cows and horses. It also works in the motions of objects and the perceptions of the senses. O Brihaspati, Lord omniscient of this mighty universe, may the heat and light of natural energy invest our vitality with all that power and energy. Brihaspati, noble teacher and master of knowledge and education, may our teachers like Indra and Agni in-form and in-vest our deep interest in life and nature with the hidden secrets of light, power and sensation as expressions of one universal natural energy (Prakriti).

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【 Verse 13.24 】

▸ Veda Mantra: वि॒राड् ज्योति॑रधारयत् स्व॒राड् ज्योति॑रधारयत्। प्र॒जाप॑तिष्ट्वा सादयतु पृ॒ष्ठे पृ॑थि॒व्या ज्योति॑ष्मतीम्। विश्व॑स्मै प्रा॒णाया॑पा॒नाय॑ व्या॒नाय॒ विश्वं॒ ज्योति॑र्यच्छ। अ॒ग्निष्टेऽधि॑पति॒स्तया॑ दे॒वत॑याङ्गिर॒स्वद् ध्रु॒वा सी॑द ॥२४ ॥

▸ Translation: The cosmic forms of the universe bear the light of the Lord. Self-luminant stars such as the sun bear the light as their own. O lady of light and knowledge, noble teacher and torch-bearer, may the father of created beings, Prajapati, instal you in your seat on the face of the earth. Give full light of knowledge to others for the sake of full energy, safeguard against suffering, and all good qualities of nature, character and action. Agni, lord of light and life, is your master and guardian. Stay firm and secure with that noble and gracious lord as the soul with the body, Prakriti with Purusha and the light of dawn with the day.

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【 Verse 13.25 】

▸ Veda Mantra: मधु॑श्च॒ माध॑वश्च॒ वास॑न्तिकावृ॒तूऽ अ॒ग्नेर॑न्तः श्ले॒षो᳖ऽसि॒ कल्पे॑तां॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी कल्प॑न्ता॒माप॒ऽ ओष॑धयः॒ कल्प॑न्ताम॒ग्नयः॒ पृथ॒ङ् मम॒ ज्यैष्ठ्या॑य॒ सव्र॑ताः। येऽ अ॒ग्नयः॒ सम॑नसोऽन्त॒रा द्यावा॑पृथि॒वीऽ इ॒मे। वास॑न्तिकावृ॒तूऽ अ॑भि॒कल्प॑माना॒ऽ इन्द्र॑मिव दे॒वाऽ अ॑भि॒संवि॑शन्तु॒ तया॑ दे॒वत॑याङ्गिर॒स्वद् ध्रु॒वे सी॑दतम् ॥२५ ॥

▸ Translation: Chaitra is a honey-sweet month. Vaishakha is a month of honey-sweets. These are the months of spring. Both these, born of agni, are closely connected to summer. May the earth and heaven be favourable to us for the gift of excellence, may the waters be favourable, may the herbs and trees be favourable, may all the orders of agni (heat and light each), committed to its own law and function, be favourable to us. May all the forms of vital fire in earth and heaven, integrated and mutually harmonious, supporting and energizing the two spring months like all the powers of nature serving and working for the omnipotent lord Indra, bless and vitalize us in all ways. Just as the earth and heaven abide firm and secure with the Supreme Lord of the universe, just as the spring months abide by the vital fire of earth and heaven, so should we all abide firm and secure by the lord of the universe, nature and spring, as breath abides by life, as Prakriti abides by Purusha, and as part abides by the whole.

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【 Verse 13.26 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अषा॑ढासि॒ सह॑माना॒ सह॒स्वारा॑तीः॒ सह॑स्व पृतनाय॒तः। स॒हस्र॑वीर्य्यासि॒ सा मा॑ जिन्व ॥२६ ॥

▸ Translation: Ruling power, Shakti, you are tolerant, challenging and invincible. Challenge the mean, the ungenerous and the destructive forces. Face, fight and defeat those who are bent upon violence. You have the strength and prowess of a thousand powers. Be good to me, be good and gracious to all.

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【 Verse 13.27 】

▸ Veda Mantra: मधु॒ वाता॑ऽ ऋताय॒ते मधु॑ क्षरन्ति॒ सिन्ध॑वः। माध्वी॑र्नः स॒न्त्वोष॑धीः ॥२७ ॥

▸ Translation: The winds blow cool and sweet as honey. The streams and ocean-currents flow cool and sweet as honey. May the herbs and trees be as sweet and pleasant as honey. (Let us too be good and sweet in our conduct as the winds, the streams and the herbs and trees, observing the law and ethics of value.)

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【 Verse 13.28 】

▸ Veda Mantra: मधु॒ नक्त॑मु॒तोषसो॒ मधु॑म॒त् पार्थि॑व॒ꣳ रजः॑। मधु॒ द्यौर॑स्तु नः पि॒ता ॥२८ ॥

▸ Translation: May the nights and the dawn be honey-sweet, soothing and inspiring. May the dust of mother-earth be sweet and fragrant. And may the light of the sun be honey-sweet and kind as father for us all. (Let us too follow the honey-sweets of nature in life.)

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【 Verse 13.29 】

▸ Veda Mantra: मधु॑मान्नो॒ वन॒स्पति॒र्मधु॑माँ२ऽ अस्तु॒ सूर्य्यः॑। माध्वी॒र्गावो॑ भवन्तु नः ॥२९ ॥

▸ Translation: May the herbs with their juices and the trees with their fruit be honey-sweet for us. May the sun be kind, sweet and invigorating. May the cows be sweet and rejuvenating as honey with their milk. May the saints, scholars, seniors and teachers be kind and affectionate as the sun, the mother earth and the mother cow.

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【 Verse 13.30 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अ॒पां गम्भ॑न्त्सीद॒ मा त्वा॒ सूर्य्यो॒ऽभिता॑प्सी॒न्माग्निर्वै॑श्वान॒रः। अच्छि॑न्नपत्राः प्र॒जाऽ अ॑नु॒वीक्ष॒स्वानु॑ त्वा दि॒व्या वृष्टिः॑ सचताम् ॥३० ॥

▸ Translation: Be in the centre of the waters deep as in the clouds so that the heat of the sun may not injure you nor the earthly heat, Vaishwanara, hurt you. Look round so that the people, free and fully protected from heat, are favourable to you. May the showers of celestial rain bless you.

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【 Verse 13.31 】

▸ Veda Mantra: त्रीन्त्स॑मु॒द्रान्त्सम॑सृपत् स्व॒र्गान॒पां पति॑र्वृष॒भऽ इष्ट॑कानाम्। पुरी॑षं॒ वसा॑नः सुकृ॒तस्य॑ लो॒के तत्र॑ गच्छ॒ यत्र॒ पूर्वे॒ परे॑ताः ॥३१ ॥

▸ Translation: The master controller of pranic energies of life, through karma, crosses the three oceans of time and space leading to the paradisal abode of the blessed in the sphere of the sun. Abiding with the Spirit of the universe he/she brightens up the earth and showers it with all the objects of sweetness and desire. Man/Woman on earth, go thither to the region of the blessed where your noble ancestors have gone. (And that is the spring of the life of supernal joy.)

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【 Verse 13.32 】

▸ Veda Mantra: म॒ही द्यौः पृ॑थि॒वी च॑ नऽ इ॒मं य॒ज्ञं मि॑मिक्षताम्। पि॒पृ॒तां नो॒ भरी॑मभिः ॥३२ ॥

▸ Translation: May the great earth and high heaven bless and promote this yajna of our life. So may they and our parents join and bless our yajna of the household with their active blessings.

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【 Verse 13.33 】

▸ Veda Mantra: विष्णोः॒ कर्मा॑णि पश्यत॒ यतो॑ व्र॒तानि॑ पस्प॒शे। इन्द्र॑स्य॒ युज्यः॒ सखा॑ ॥३३ ॥

▸ Translation: Behold the great acts of the omnipresent lord of the universe, Vishnu, acts like the creation, sustenance and dissolution of the world. Therein I see the essence, the ultimate blueprint of the discipline and actions for living. He is the great friend and lover of the human soul. He is the giver of bliss.

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【 Verse 13.34 】

▸ Veda Mantra: ध्रु॒वासि॑ ध॒रुणे॒तो ज॑ज्ञे प्र॒थ॒ममे॒भ्यो योनि॑भ्यो॒ऽअधि॑ जा॒तवे॑दाः। स गा॑य॒त्र्या त्रि॒ष्टुभा॑ऽनु॒ष्टुभा॑ च दे॒वेभ्यो॑ ह॒व्यं व॑हतु प्रजा॒नन् ॥३४ ॥

▸ Translation: Mother of the universe, Prakriti, firm and inviolable power, bearer of the world’s forms in existence as you are, it was through your oceanic womb that Agni, the omniscient creative consciousness first manifested Itself. And He, knowing and manifesting through everything born, moved the materials of the cosmic yajna to the evolutionary powers of nature and communicated the cosmic knowledge through gayatri, trishtup and anushtup verses to the visionary sages. (In the context of the home, grihastha, the wife is the Prakriti-like centre-hold of the organisation and the mother of the familial creation. The husband is agni, jataveda, father and yajamana of the home-yajna.)

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【 Verse 13.35 】

▸ Veda Mantra: इ॒षे रा॒ये र॑मस्व॒ सह॑से द्यु॒म्नऽ ऊ॒र्जेऽ अप॑त्याय। स॒म्राड॑सि स्व॒राड॑सि सारस्व॒तौ त्वोत्सौ॒ प्राव॑ताम् ॥३५ ॥

▸ Translation: Master/Mistress of the home, you are the ruler, brilliant, self-enlightened and self-disciplined. Be steadfast, live well and abide in the home for the sake of food, energy, courage, wealth, honour and children. May the noble and gracious Brahmanas and the learned and eloquent scholars guide and protect you in your homely world.

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【 Verse 13.36 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अग्ने॑ यु॒क्ष्वा हि ये तवाश्वा॑सो देव सा॒धवः॑। अरं॒ वह॑न्ति म॒न्यवे॑ ॥३६ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, lord of power and science, those horses of yours which are swift and accurate to carry you to the target of your ardour and ambition like an arrow and thunder bolt, are wonderful. Lord of speed, rise and yoke the horses to your chariot.

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【 Verse 13.37 】

▸ Veda Mantra: यु॒क्ष्वा हि दे॑व॒हूत॑माँ॒२ऽ अश्वाँ॑२ऽ अग्ने र॒थीरि॑व। नि होता॑ पू॒र्व्यः स॑दः ॥३७ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, lord of light and power, veteran leader and generous man of yajna, rise and yoke to the chariot of your mission the horses/powers trained by the gods and, like a glorious ruler and expert master, take your seat on the chariot.

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【 Verse 13.38 】

▸ Veda Mantra: स॒म्यक् स्र॑वन्ति स॒रितो॒ न धेना॑ऽ अ॒न्तर्हृ॒दा मन॑सा पू॒यमा॑नाः। घृ॒तस्य॒ धारा॑ऽ अ॒भिचा॑कशीमि हिर॒ण्ययो॑ वेत॒सो मध्ये॑ऽ अ॒ग्नेः ॥३८ ॥

▸ Translation: Like streams, soft, sweet and ceaseless glides the flow of words distilled and purified by the heart and mind within. And I, wrapped in gold, in the midst of the light and fire of Agni, turned to a flute of reed, hear the murmur of the showers of benediction.

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【 Verse 13.39 】

▸ Veda Mantra: ऋ॒चे त्वा॑ रु॒चे त्वा॑ भा॒से त्वा॒ ज्योति॑षे त्वा। अभू॑दि॒दं विश्व॑स्य॒ भुव॑नस्य॒ वाजि॑नम॒ग्नेर्वै॑श्वान॒रस्य॑ च ॥३९ ॥

▸ Translation: To you Agni, lord of knowledge and speech, thanks and salutations for the knowledge of truth, love and lustre of life, light of science, and brilliance of justice and rectitude! By virtue of you alone, this soul has become aware of the entire world and of the universal presence of agni, the vital energy of life and nature active in the earthly sphere. By virtue of Agni alone this scholar and teacher can propagate this knowledge of reality among the people around.

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【 Verse 13.40 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अ॒ग्निर्ज्योति॑षा॒ ज्योति॑ष्मान् रु॒क्मो वर्च॑सा॒ वर्च॑स्वान्। स॒ह॒स्र॒दाऽ अ॑सि स॒हस्रा॑य त्वा ॥४० ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, Lord of light and life, agni, man of science, is brilliant with the light of knowledge, illustrious with the lustre and splendour of power, golden lovable and blissful, and giver of a thousand gifts. We do homage to you for the innumerable gifts of prosperity, comfort and happiness.

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【 Verse 13.41 】

▸ Veda Mantra: आ॒दि॒त्यं गर्भं॒ पय॑सा॒ सम॑ङ्धि स॒हस्र॑स्य प्रति॒मां वि॒श्वरू॑पम्। परि॑वृङ्धि॒ हर॑सा॒ माभि म॑ꣳस्थाः श॒तायु॑षं कृणुहि ची॒यमा॑नः ॥४१ ॥

▸ Translation: With oblations of milk, honour the rising sun which holds in its womb and reveals innumerable forms and images of the world. With the heat, light and fragrance of the fire, ward off a host of ailments and grow. Growing in health and knowledge, help people to live a hundred years. Never never be proud.

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【 Verse 13.42 】

▸ Veda Mantra: वात॑स्य जू॒तिं वरु॑णस्य॒ नाभि॒मश्वं॑ जज्ञा॒नꣳ स॑रि॒रस्य॒ मध्ये॑। शिशुं॑ न॒दीना॒ हरि॒मद्रि॑बुध्न॒मग्ने॒ मा हि॑ꣳसीः पर॒मे व्यो॑मन् ॥४२ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, universal power, man of knowledge and power, hurt not the velocity of the wind and the centre of the water and vapours. Hurt not anything that is creative and procurative in the midst of the world. Injure not the produce of rivers, the clouds and anything grown on the mountains. Kill not the birds and aquatic creatures. Kill not anything that saves from suffering and evil.

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【 Verse 13.43 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अज॑स्र॒मिन्दु॑मरु॒षं भु॑र॒ण्युम॒ग्निमी॑डे पू॒र्वचि॑त्तिं॒ नमो॑भिः। स पर्व॑भिर्ऋतु॒शः कल्प॑मानो॒ गां मा हि॑ꣳसी॒रदि॑तिं वि॒राज॑म् ॥४३ ॥

▸ Translation: I worship Agni, eternal power, bright and fiery, lord of peace and bliss, and giver of health and vigour. With all means and materials I study and develop the power of fire and electricity collected and developed by the ancients. I proceed season by season, planning and achieving stage by stage. Agni, man of science and power, do not kill, destroy or injure the productive cow, the creative earth so bright and unviolated, and the restorative environment.

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【 Verse 13.44 】

▸ Veda Mantra: वरू॑त्रीं॒ त्वष्टु॒र्वरु॑णस्य॒ नाभि॒मविं॑ जज्ञा॒ना रज॑सः॒ पर॑स्मात्। म॒ही सा॑ह॒स्रीमसु॑रस्य मा॒यामग्ने॒ मा हि॑सीः पर॒मे व्यो॑मन् ॥४४ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, man of knowledge and power, do not injure, do not destroy, the protective power of the sun, the binding power of water, the lightning energy of the cloud born of regions beyond the sky, and the great, generous and regenerative earth, giver of a thousand blessings.

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【 Verse 13.45 】

▸ Veda Mantra: योऽ अ॒ग्निर॒ग्नेरध्यजा॑यत॒ शोका॑त् पृथि॒व्याऽ उ॒त वा॑ दि॒वस्परि॑। येन॑ प्र॒जा वि॒श्वक॑र्मा ज॒जान॒ तम॑ग्ने॒ हेडः॒ परि॑ ते वृणक्तु ॥४५ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, man of science and power, the vital fire and creative energy that was born of the flames of the cosmic yajna of Agni, Lord of life and light, illuminates the wide world and heaven, and with it Vishwakarma, the Lord Maker of all forms, makes the various forms of life in existence. May your passion for knowledge and power spare that creative energy from hurt and damage.

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【 Verse 13.46 】

▸ Veda Mantra: चि॒त्रं दे॒वाना॒मुद॑गा॒दनी॑कं॒ चक्षु॑र्मि॒त्रस्य॒ वरु॑णस्या॒ग्नेः। आ प्रा॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वीऽ अ॒न्तरि॑क्ष॒ꣳ सूर्य्य॑ऽ आ॒त्मा जग॑तस्त॒स्थुष॑श्च ॥४६ ॥

▸ Translation: The Lord Supreme Creator is the wonderful life and splendour of the gods, universal powers of nature. He is the Eye, light and vitality, of the sun, the oceans of waters, and agni, the vital fire. He pervades and fills the heaven, the earth and the middle regions of the universe. He is the sole universal sun, the soul of the moving and the unmoving world and, like the sun, manifests Himself — ever risen, ever rising, never setting.

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【 Verse 13.47 】

▸ Veda Mantra: इ॒मं मा हि॑ꣳसीर्द्वि॒पादं॑ प॒शुꣳ स॑हस्रा॒क्षो मेधा॑य ची॒यमा॑नः। म॒युं प॒शुं मेध॑मग्ने जुषस्व॒ तेन॑ चिन्वा॒नस्त॒न्वो᳕ निषी॑द। म॒युं ते॒ शुगृ॑च्छतु॒ यं द्वि॒ष्मस्तं ते॒ शुगृ॑च्छतु ॥४७ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni/Ruler/Noble man or woman, growing and progressing in happiness, watchful with the vision of a thousand eyes, hurt not the humans, kill not the animals. Love and look after the wild as well as the domestic animals, both holy and serviceable. Working and progressing by that animal wealth, feel settled, be at peace with yourself. Let your concern address the wild animals, or let it be directed to those who hurt us.

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【 Verse 13.48 】

▸ Veda Mantra: इ॒मं मा हि॑ꣳसी॒रेक॑शफं प॒शुं क॑निक्र॒दं वा॒जिनं॒ वाजि॑नेषु। गौ॒रमा॑र॒ण्यमनु॑ ते दिशामि॒ तेन॑ चिन्वा॒नस्त॒न्वो᳕ निषी॑द। गौ॒रं ते॒ शुगृ॑च्छतु॒ यं द्वि॒ष्मस्तं ते॒ शुगृ॑च्छतु ॥४८ ॥

▸ Translation: Do not kill this one-hoofed animal, fastest among the fast, roaring in the battles. I advise you, turn your attention to the white, yellow and brown animals, the wild ones, and growing by this animal wealth, sit at peace with yourself. Let your concern address the wild animals. Let it be directed to those who hurt us.

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【 Verse 13.49 】

▸ Veda Mantra: इ॒मꣳ सा॑ह॒स्रꣳ श॒तधा॑र॒मुत्सं॑ व्य॒च्यमा॑नꣳ सरि॒रस्य॒ मध्ये॑। घृ॒तं दुहा॑ना॒मदि॑तिं॒ जना॒याग्ने॒ मा हि॑ꣳसीः पर॒मे व्यो॑मन्। ग॒व॒यमा॑र॒ण्यमनु॑ ते दिशामि॒ तेन॑ चिन्वा॒नस्त॒न्वो᳕ निषी॑द। ग॒व॒यं ते॒ शुगृ॑च्छतु॒ यं द्वि॒ष्मस्तं ते॒ शुगृ॑च्छतु ॥४९ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, enlightened ruler, in the world even in the best of places, do not kill the cow and the bull, infinitely useful, and spring of a hundred streams and showers of milk and ghee for the people. It is holy and worthy of protection and development. I advise you, turn your attention to the wild cow and the bull and other animals. Growing and developing the economy with animal and forest wealth, feel settled with yourself and your land. Let your attention be directed to the wild cow and the forest wealth. Let your concern take on those who hurt us.

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【 Verse 13.50 】

▸ Veda Mantra: इ॒ममू॑र्णा॒युं वरु॑णस्य॒ नाभिं॒ त्वचं॑ पशू॒नां द्वि॒पदां॒ चतु॑ष्पदाम्। त्वष्टुः॑ प्र॒जानां॑ प्रथ॒मं ज॒नित्र॒मग्ने॒ मा हि॑ꣳसीः पर॒मे व्यो॑मन्। उष्ट्र॑मार॒ण्यमनु॑ ते दिशामि॒ तेन॑ चिन्वा॒नस्त॒न्वो᳕ निषी॑द। उष्ट्रं॑ ते॒ शुगृ॑च्छतु॒ यं द्वि॒ष्मस्तं ते॒ शुगृ॑च्छतु ॥५० ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, noble ruler, in the wonderful world of the Supreme Lord, do not hurt, do not kill the sheep and other such animals, one of the first creations of Twashta, the maker of the world, and source of comfort and providers of woollen cover to the human beings and the animals. I point out to the wild camel and other wild animals. Growing and developing the economy with that animal wealth, be at peace with yourself in your land. Let your concern turn to the camel. Let it be directed to those who hurt us.

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【 Verse 13.51 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अ॒जो ह्य॒ग्नेरज॑निष्ट॒ शोका॒त् सोऽ अ॑पश्यज्जनि॒तार॒मग्रे॑। तेन॑ दे॒वा दे॒वता॒मग्र॑मायँ॒स्तेन॒ रोह॑माय॒न्नुप॒ मेध्या॑सः। श॒र॒भमा॑र॒ण्यमनु॑ ते दिशामि॒ तेन॑ चिन्वा॒नस्त॒न्वो᳕ निषी॑द। श॒र॒भं ते॒ शुगृ॑च्छतु॒ यं द्वि॒ष्मस्तं ते॒ शुगृ॑च्छतु ॥५१ ॥

▸ Translation: The unborn individual soul was born in this world from the flame of the Supreme Lord’s cosmic yajna of creation. It grew conscious and had a vision of the creator right there. By virtue of the vision and grace of the Lord, the pious souls, purified by the vision, realise the divine powers and rise to the heights of existence. Agni, noble ruler/noble man, I point out to the wild sharabha (fabulous antelope of the snowy forest, mightier than the lion and the elephant). Like that, defend yourself and grow, and growing thereby, be happy and feel satisfied and settled by yourself. Let your concern address the sharabha. Let your concern be directed to those who hurt us.

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【 Verse 13.52 】

▸ Veda Mantra: त्वं य॑विष्ठ दा॒शुषो॒ नॄः पा॑हि शृणु॒धी गिरः॑। रक्षा॑ तो॒कमु॒त त्मना॑ ॥५२ ॥

▸ Translation: Young man/woman of superlative energy and character, listen to the voice of Divinity. Protect and promote the people who give with faith and generosity. With your very heart and soul, protect and promote the child — human, animal and all.

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【 Verse 13.53 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अ॒पां त्वेम॑न्त्सादयाम्य॒पां त्वोद्म॑न्सादयाम्य॒पां त्वा॒ भस्म॑न्त्सादयाम्य॒पां त्वा॒ ज्योति॑षि सादयाम्य॒पां त्वाय॑ने सादयाम्यर्ण॒वे त्वा॒ सद॑ने सादयामि समु॒द्रे त्वा॒ सद॑ने सादयामि। सरि॒रे त्वा॒ सद॑ने सादयाम्य॒पां त्वा॒ क्षये॑ सादयाम्य॒पां त्वा॒ सधि॑षि सादयाम्य॒पां त्वा॒ सद॑ने सादयाम्य॒पां त्वा॑ स॒धस्थे॑ सादयाम्य॒पां त्वा॒ योनौ॑ सादयाम्य॒पां त्वा॒ पुरी॑षे सादयाम्य॒पां त्वा॒ पाथ॑सि सादयामि। गाय॒त्रेण॑ त्वा॒ छन्द॑सा सादयामि॒ त्रैष्टु॑भेन त्वा॒ छन्द॑सा सादयामि॒ जाग॑तेन त्वा॒ छन्द॑सा सादया॒म्यानु॑ष्टुभेन त्वा॒ छन्द॑सा सादयामि॒ पाङ्क्ते॑न त्वा॒ छन्द॑सा सादयामि ॥५३ ॥

▸ Translation: For the protection of life and the production and management of energy, I place/initiate you: in the waterways management, and study of the source of water, the spatial wind; in the movement of water into the herbs; in the concentration of energy in ash; in the flash of light in lightning; in the currents of energy in the sky, and the orbits of the stars and planets; in the source and centre of pranic energy, and concentrations of air in space; in the secret motions of the mind, and the depths of the sea; in the power and source of speech, and storms of heaving oceans in space; in the faculty of vision and the science of light; in the faculty of hearing and the transmission of sound; in the science of radiation and the solar region, the source of energy; in the sources of energy in the middle regions; in the original sources of energy, the universal ocean of motion of the Rajas mode of Nature (Prakriti); in the sands of earth and rivers and the waste materials; in water, air and food, the sources of vital energy. I initiate you with the visions of nature and spirit contained in the gayatri verses, I initiate you with the pure knowledge contained in the trishtup verses, I initiate you with the knowledge contained in the inspiring jagati verses, I initiate you with the knowledge contained in the enlightening anushtup verses, I initiate you with the knowledge contained in the clear exhilarating pankti verses of the Veda.

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【 Verse 13.54 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अ॒यं पु॒रो भुव॒स्तस्य॑ प्रा॒णो भौ॑वा॒यनो व॑स॒न्तः प्रा॑णाय॒नो गा॑य॒त्री वा॑स॒न्ती गा॑य॒त्र्यै गा॑य॒त्रं गा॑य॒त्रादु॑पा॒शुरु॑पा॒शोस्त्रि॒वृत् त्रि॒वृतो॑ रथन्त॒रं वसि॑ष्ठ॒ऽ ऋषिः॑। प्र॒जाप॑तिगृहीतया॒ त्वया॑ प्राणं गृ॑ह्णामि प्र॒जाभ्यः॑ ॥५४ ॥

▸ Translation: This Agni, universal spirit, is the first and foremost in existence, the eastern horizon of the world. Its offspring is prana, vital energy, life-breath of existence. The offspring of prana is spring. The song of spring is gayatri, joy. Joy is the music of spring from gayatri, the gayatra saman, soft, sweet and low. From gayatra, the upanshu, the receiver of soma, ladle for libation. And from the upanshu, creation of trivrit, the person dedicated to trivrit, threefold integrated Dharma of knowledge, action and prayer. From trivrit, the successful man, sociable, visionary and saviour. Woman of knowledge, virtue and love, blest by Prajapati, lord of creation, alongwith you I receive the vital energy of prana for the sake of children and family.

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【 Verse 13.55 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अ॒यं द॑क्षि॒णा वि॒श्वक॑र्मा॒ तस्य॒ मनो॑ वैश्वकर्म॒णं ग्री॒ष्मो मा॑न॒सस्त्रि॒ष्टुब् ग्रैष्मी॑ त्रि॒ष्टुभः॑ स्वा॒रꣳ स्वा॒राद॑न्तर्य्या॒मो᳖ऽन्तर्या॒मात् प॑ञ्चद॒शः प॑ञ्चद॒शाद् बृ॒हद् भ॒रद्वा॑ज॒ऽ ऋषिः॑ प्र॒जाप॑तिगृहीतया॒ त्वया॒ मनो॑ गृह्णामि प्र॒जाभ्यः॑ ॥५५ ॥

▸ Translation: On the right (south) is the spirit and power of the divine, Vishwakarma, like vayu, wind and electric energy, the divine agency by which is accomplished every action and movement of the world. The offspring of Vishwakarma is the mind, desire and action. The offspring of mind is summer. Trishtup meter is the expression of summer. From trishtup is born swara-sama of heat and lustre as the mid-day. From swara comes the antaryama, the silent libation of soma with selfcontrol. From antaryama comes/is born the fifteen-phase stoma (pancha-dasha-stoma), expression of joy and hilarity. From pancha-dasha stoma comes Brihat-saman, the great saman song of jubilation and celebration. The seer expert of Brihat-saman is Bharadwaja, man of full knowledge and prosperity. Woman of knowledge, virtue and love, blest by Prajapati, alongwith you I receive mana, mind, that is, love and desire for the sake of family and community.

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【 Verse 13.56 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अ॒यं प॒श्चाद् वि॒श्वव्य॑चा॒स्तस्य॒ चक्षु॑र्वै॒श्वव्यच॒सं व॒र्षाश्चा॑क्षु॒ष्यो᳕ जग॑ती वा॒र्षी जग॑त्या॒ऽ ऋक्स॑म॒मृक्स॑माच्छु॒क्रः शु॒क्रात् स॑प्तद॒शः स॑प्तद॒शाद् वै॑रू॒पं ज॒मद॑ग्नि॒र्ऋषिः॑ प्र॒जाप॑तिगृहीतया॒ त्वया॒ चक्षु॑र्गृह्णामि प्र॒जाभ्यः॑ ॥५६ ॥

▸ Translation: In the west (on the back) this sun is the divine power that illuminates and covers the whole world with light. The offspring of the sun is the light and the vision of the eye. The product of light and heat is the rain. The joy of rain is expressed in the jagati verse. In jagati metre are composed the Rik-samans. From the joy of RikSamans is born ‘shukra’, the lustre and vitality of life. From shukra is born the sapta-dasha (seventeen) stoma and the seventeen faculty subtle body. From this seventeen-element living life is born the diversity of living forms, of which the seer and visionary expert is jamadagni, man of light and lustre. Woman of knowledge, virtue and love blest by Prajapati, along with you I receive light and vision for family and the people.

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【 Verse 13.57 】

▸ Veda Mantra: इ॒दमु॑त्त॒रात् स्व॒स्तस्य॒ श्रोत्र॑ꣳ सौ॒वꣳ श॒रछ्रौ॒त्र्यनु॒ष्टुप् शा॑र॒द्य᳖नु॒ष्टुभ॑ऽ ऐ॒डमै॒डान् म॒न्थी म॒न्थिन॑ऽ एकवि॒ꣳशऽ ए॑कवि॒ꣳशाद् वै॑रा॒जं वि॒श्वामि॑त्र॒ऽ ऋषिः॑ प्र॒जाप॑तिगृहीतया॒ त्वया॒ श्रोत्रं॑ गृह्णामि प्र॒जाभ्यः॑ ॥५७ ॥

▸ Translation: On the north is this spirit of bliss and joy. The instrument of joy is the ear, and sharad, autumn, is the season for ear and music. The metre for sharad is anushtup. In anushtup is composed the aida-saman which is the song of beauty and sweetness. From aida is the ‘manthi’, churner, who churns out hilarity and virility. From manthis comes the twenty-one part stoma which constitutes an integrated programme of twenty one branches of learning. From twenty one stoma comes vairaja saman, a body of knowledge, of which the seermaster is Vishwamitra, friend of the whole world. Woman of knowledge, virtue and love, blest by Prajapati, alongwith you I receive the ear and the voice that gives me the songs of joy and virility for the sake of the family and the community.

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【 Verse 13.58 】

▸ Veda Mantra: इ॒यमु॒परि॑ म॒तिस्तस्यै॒ वाङ्मा॒त्या हे॑म॒न्तो वा॒च्यः प॒ङ्क्तिर्है॑म॒न्ती प॒ङ्क्त्यै नि॒धन॑वन्नि॒धन॑वतऽ आग्रय॒णऽ आ॑ग्रय॒णात् त्रि॑णवत्रयस्त्रि॒ꣳशौ त्रि॑णवत्रयस्त्रि॒ꣳशाभ्या॑ शाक्वररैव॒ते वि॒श्वक॑र्म॒ऽ ऋषिः॑ प्र॒जाप॑तिगृहीतया॒ त्व॒या वाचं॑ गृह्णामि प्र॒जाभ्यः॑ ॥५८ ॥

▸ Translation: Up above is this intelligence. From intelligence and for it is speech. With speech goes the season of ‘hemanta’, winter, and pankti is the metre for hemanta. Nidhanavat, the choric finale of a saman about hemanta, winter-song, is composed in pankti metre. From nidhanavat, the finale, is born the agrayana, first soma libation in agnishtoma yajna for the attainment of plenty of wealth and knowledge. From agrayana, there are twelve and thirty three saman hymns of praise. From these twelve and thirty three, we have shakvara and rewata, means to wealth, honour and power. The person who is an expert visionary of these hymns is a master of all arts and actions leading to wealth, power and honour. Woman of knowledge, virtue and love, blest by Prajapati, alongwith you I receive the gift of speech (knowledge, wisdom and expertise) for the sake of children, family and the community.